The Silent Patient By Alex Michaelides - Restarting Restarting June 11th 2021

[Elena]

@Krystal first of all - great thoughts! And I envy your ability to be surprised while reading thrillers. I don't read many of the genre, but I often guess right at about 50% of a book. And after that it becomes boring. (I assume that's why I don't like thrillers too much). And maybe I've been reading wrong ones all the time :D

As for relations between Theo and his wife...
(view spoiler)[
I feel you! I also don't approve cheating, but we only know Theo's PoV. And I believe there is more to what actually happened considering his obsessive personality and all the circumstances. He also could have imagined some scenes. It is common among people with similar mental issues.
(hide spoiler)]

[Mummy's Naughty Corner]

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Date changed. Restarting November 6th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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[Johanna]

I would love to join this :D

[Tawallah]

Feel free Johanna. The more the merrier

[Stormy]

Definitely the more the merrier going to start this now as I just can't wait to start it

[Stormy]

(view spoiler)[ I've seen this book everywhere lately and couldn't wait to start reading it Theo Faber was battered by his dad when he was a kid by his belt (hide spoiler)]

[Stormy]

(view spoiler)[Can't you just tell Theo is obsessed with treating Alicia, the artist, who murdered her husband and tried to commit suicide (hide spoiler)]

[Stormy]

Part 2 don't you think something's going on with Theo like he's not telling the full truth

[Stormy]

I've got to admit I just couldn't put this book down and the ending I don't know what I think about it

[Tawallah]

Hi Natalie, you raced through this book. I am now into Part 2- early days yet. My impressions so far is that Theo has a hidden agenda and interested in Alicia for ambitious purposes. Based on the hints, things go quite tragically. So far guessing his marriage takes a hit. Mainly because of the mirroring effect I saw in the first part.
Just hoping the tension and craziness is duly rewarded.

[Stormy]

I loved the parts where it was her diary

[Tawallah]

Agreed, her diary entries really helped with the tension and suspense. I'm near the ending and though my initial theory was correct. I am shocked at this final revelation, or am I being tricked. So good with the suspense and the twists.

[Tawallah]

Oh my goodness, this book was so good. That ending , I was both right and wrong. And the clues were all there.

[Stormy]

I really didn't guess who it was until we found out

[Johanna]

Part 1
(view spoiler)[Okay so we don't have any idea what has happened: did she kill him or what? Why she doesn"t speak? I wan't to know :D This is a really intriguing book. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 11
(view spoiler)[I think this book has potential to drive me crazy. We get information slowly: now we know that Alicia's mother did suicide and Alicia was in the car too. And where were her father? Why she moved to live with her aunt? Why her aunt didn't want to talk about Alicia with Theo? (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 14
(view spoiler)[Why she attacked? I mean if she has been there years and never did something like this. I wonder if they already knew each other... (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 17
(view spoiler)[Oh wow, so Theo's wife has a lover. Can't wait to see what's going to happen. It's also interesting that Theo buys his joints from the same market where Alicia told her to be one time. Coincident? I don't think so. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 27
(view spoiler)[So Gabriel's brother was interested of Alicia. And I wonder if there was also something else why the aunt didn't like Alicia. I felt it was really strange advise to get a divorce as a first and only solution. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 32
(view spoiler)[There is so many weird men in Alicia's life: cousin who desperately needs money, husband's brother who says is in love in her and her "best friend". Brother had a new wife who has a diamond ring and is afraid of him. Best friend doesn't care of her, only her paintings. Through what happened brother got money and best friend paintings which are valuable now. I'm going crazy when I go through these... (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Part 2
(view spoiler)[All the talk about a stalker. Has there really been a stalker and if so, who?? I started to wonder how strange it was when Yuri told how he has stalked someone. Who was she? (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Part 3
(view spoiler)[Haha, my theories are all the time wilder. Now I've started to believe it's Gabriel but it doesn't make sense because he was sleeping when the stalker was outdoor last time. But if he pretended? I don't know. No it can't be him because he wouldn't have time to change his clothes. I said my theories are WILD. But somehow I feel he wants Alicia to be week and under medication. Why? I'm quite sure he has someone. And Alicia pretends only for him, finds out he's not worth of her trust and...? I don't know. I wan't to know! (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 49
(view spoiler)[I this is a book about obsession, I don't know if it's a good that this book can be one as well... (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Chapter 63
(view spoiler)[We don't still know what happened and this is driving me crazy!! Well if I try to think is has to be someone in the hospital because otherwise it would have been impossibe to give morphine. It has to be Theo. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Part 4
(view spoiler)[I'm a bit disappointed because I wondered in some phase that we're told story in two time-dimensions. I left that theory because I hoped something more. Well, everything makes sense. (hide spoiler)]

[Johanna]

Finish
(view spoiler)[It surprised that it was Alice!! Wow :D I liked the ending. (hide spoiler)]

[Tawallah]

Hi Johanna,
Sorry I missed some of your earlier posts. Things went down so quickly in this one. And most of the characters were bat-crazy. And then that final reveal............... my mind is still blown.

[Johanna]

June wrote: "Hi Johanna,
Sorry I missed some of your earlier posts. Things went down so quickly in this one. And most of the characters were bat-crazy. And then that final reveal............... my mind is stil..."

That's okay, I can understand obsession with this book xD I also wanted to find out what happened as fast as possible :D

[Jenn]

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Date changed. Restarting June 11th 2021. Happy Reading ☺

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[callie]

OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... its because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told wtf is going on as soon as possible (I'm that weirdo who looks up spoilers sometimes so I don't have to wait) and with thrillers the whole point is not know so what ends up happening is me not putting the book down. for a single second. because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.

So yeah, I was just gonna read a little bit of this, but then suddenly it was 4.5 hours later and I finished it... that's the problem. I don't have time to read them, cause I definitely am someone incapable of putting them down.

I say all this like I've tried reading thrillers before but I'm pretty sure this is my first real one. I enjoyed though!

[callie]

(finished) (view spoiler)[ I listened to the audiobook for this one. I didn't really try to predict any of the twists cause I don't read mysteries or thrillers often and I forget that's a thing people do.... for most books I'm just there for the ride.

Now knowing the twist it seems obvious but yeah. I was like..... wait a damn minute..... for a sec cause the timelines didn't add up and then I realized NONE of the "past" scenes with Theo mentioned anything about his current job or anything. Which I had multiple times thought was really weird. And then it made a lot of sense with some of the things I found odd. Like I was SO confused why no mentioned Theo had bruises and gashes in his neck from Alicia trying to kill him... like his wife didn't ask him if he was ok or what happened? and he went to his old therapist's house after that and I was so confused why she didn't say anything cause if I was an 80 year old therapist and my old patient came randomly to my house in the middle of the night with gauges in his neck I WOULD BE A TAD CONCERCED, ya feel me?

IDK I feel really dumb cause I had all the right thoughts, I noticed some facts didn't line up, I thought it was weird how obsessed Theo was with Alicia (like are you ok bud? that seems unhealthy), He about murdered who we now know is Gabriel multiple times (like honey are you gonna murder someone now wtf if wrong with you), and other things like that, I passively thought all the thing I just didn't actively think about it. ANYWAYS

Some other weird things: Theo's lighter was confiscated on his first day cause "we don't want to patients starting a fire" but then life half the people there smoke.... how do you light that buddy if you don't have a lighter? and then at the end in the courtyard there is a bit were Theo lights Alicia's cigarette so he obviously has some sort of thing that makes fire... that makes no sense.
Also you're telling me, Theo drugged Alicia up with an almost fatal dose of morphine and she had the time to write a several page diary entry AND hide it? I don't think that is how morphine works buddy.
Then the very ending bit was kinda weird.... he just starts catching snowflakes?? then what?? what happens???

anyways, I did enjoy it. It was really intriguing and captivating. I'm definitely game to try more thrillers you know.. when I have the time to dedicate a couple hours to one. (hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told wtf is going on as soon as possible (I'm that we..."

The mystery is the charm of thrillers. It keeps you guess and try to grab for the truth behind or that. I also wanted to read it in one go as well but I can't. That's a shame.

Part One: (view spoiler)[At the beginning of chapter 1, I had to re-read the prologue to find any hints to breadcrumbs that might lead to that shocking event.

What do you think about 'nature vs. nurture? This book seems to lean toward nurture and I completely agree. I really wanted to know what Alicia's childhood had been like and was it really the root of her action.

I really didn't like the way that the narrator broke up with his girlfriend over the phone. Shouldn't he wait?

BTW, does Yuri seem suspicious to you? (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told wtf is going on as soon as possi..."

(view spoiler)[on the nurture vs nature, I think a lot of a child's personality and just how they are has to do with nurture, but nature plays a huge part in it too. I knew a kid when I was little and his parents weren't the best people from what I heard, prone to stealing things and compulsively lie, etc. This kid had never really met his parents though and was raised by his grandparents which were the absolute nicest people ever. Even as a kid you could see the similarities to his parents, he was prone to steal things and lie for absolutely no reason. Those things just seemed to be a part of his nature. Anyways that was a long explanation for a simple answer: I kinda disagree with how much the book leans towards nurture, it seems to "blame" absolutely everything on which isn't accurate, though I do agree nurture probably plays a slightly bigger part than nature.

I lowkey was not a fan of the narrator. Like I get instant attraction, you know the whole "love at first sight" thing but... that doesn't give you the right to cheat and be an overall douchebag to your current girlfriend.

YES I definitely found Yuri a tad suspicious (hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

callie wrote: "*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told w..."

(view spoiler)[From your story, I kind of agree with you both nature and nature are things that build children's character and behavior; however, this book focused only on one part. It was like if I grow up to be a bad person, blame it on my parents. I don't think it's 100% accurate since I've known a family that has only one bad fruit. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2 (End of Chapter 30)
(view spoiler)[So far, I'm also not a fan of him, the narrator. I think he was in denial about his own relationship which has already ended the moment he knew his wife was cheated. Frankly, I don't like reading about his private life since I don't think it's related to Alicia (main plot).

After finished half a book, these questions are bothering me:
1. Where is Alicia's dairy?
2. Who can I trust? Every time Theo talked to anyone related to Alicia, her cousin, brother-in-law, and so-called best friend, but then her diary said another story.
3. Is Alicia really a killer? Everyone (Max, Paul, and Jean-Felix) has something to gain from this incident. (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I li..."

(view spoiler)[Right! This book just seemed to blame basically everything on childhood and trauma which I wasn't a fan of.


I was super bored reading about Theo's personal life as well.... like.. how is this relevant, why is this here?

I wondered about the diary too! Like.... I feel like it would be something people would know about considering she'd probably bring it with her and I'm ASSUMING the people at the hospital (asylum? I've already forgotten what isn't called, lol) would check all of her belongings. It would give them so much insight to what's inside her head. I was definitely wondering why no one was talking about it.

Also same, I immediately when starting this book didn't think Alicia was the killer because well, it seemed too easy and I was definitely thinking Theo was going to end up finding who the real murderer was in his investigation. Also after a bit- we hear how much Alicia loves her husband... so why would she kill him? (hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

callie wrote: "*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilli..."

(view spoiler)[It turned out she hid the diary inside the house. Did the police really do the investigation? Did the diary she gave Theo was the same one? (hide spoiler)]

Part 3
(view spoiler)[She misunderstood Gabriel for the man she saw. That was the reason why she shot him.
Was she really crazy? Or was it the plan of Gabriel and Max? So many possibilities. (hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

Part 4: Chapter 19
(view spoiler)[I tried of reading Theo's story but now I've a strange feeling like the story must be connected somehow. What if Theo was the killer? (hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

callie wrote: "(finished) I listened to the audiobook for this one. I didn't really try to predict any of the twists cause I don't read mysteries or thrillers often and I forget that's a thing people do.... for ..."

(view spoiler)[The author has done his job. He completely made fool of us both. I'd many theories (I love to guess when I read this type of novel) and all of it was wrong.

That was right but I didn't pick it up until the author decided to tell us that. It was a huge clue and he used his writing style to trick me ... the Theo's story was worth it to read after all.

The morphine thing ... I'd like to know how fast Alicia wrote that entry and if she was in the drugging state, her hand writing can be read at all.

I think at the end Theo was going to jail and he was relieved that he got caught. (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "(finished) I listened to the audiobook for this one. I didn't really try to predict any of the twists cause I don't read mysteries or thrillers often and I forget that's a thing peop..."

(view spoiler)[ I really need to read another mystery/thriller and actually try to think about and guess the plot twists, lol. I really want to know if I can get it if I actually put my mind too it!

Yeah, Theo's story does become relevant once you learn the twist, but man it was so tedious so get through ngl.'

I mean from what I know about morphine, especially as a huge does (which is basically really little mind you) Alicia probably wouldn't have even had time to hid her diary much less write in it before it kicked it. ALSO why tf did Theo leave her when she was conscious? Like I would have stuck around until it actually knocked her out so she didn't have the opportunity to.... I don't know, write in and hide her diary incriminating me.... just sayin.....
ALSO her was found laying on the floor surrounding by pills/pill bottle which leads one to believe that Theo laid her there and carefully set it up to look like an overdose.... so what she just got up after he left to write in the diary? IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY FREAKING SENSE! I'm sorry the ending is just really grasping at straws there. The twist was good but right after that it totally fell apart for me.

Yeah, I suppose does make sense that Theo would be relieved he was caught. Theo wasn't a serial killer (he technically didn't even kill anyone) but I know probably too much about serial killers and that does fall in line with that kind of mentality so yeah.... checks out. (hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

callie wrote: "*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "(finished) I listened to the audiobook for this one. I didn't really try to predict any of the twists cause I don't read mysteries or thrillers often a..."

(view spoiler)[I think the author just wanted to simply make a statement ... It started with Alicia's diary, then let it ended with her diary.

Maybe for Theo, keeping that secret was taking its toll on him not to mention that Kathy'd changed after Gabriel's death. At some point, he'd finally realized that thing he tried to keep was no longer his so why he had to struggle in life further. I hope you understand what I mean. Maybe prison was his way out and that why he was relieved.

If you find an interesting book, please do count me in. I'd love to buddy read it with you.(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah A]

So just started listening to this one on audio, if you guys don't mind if I jump in.

[Sarah A]

Part one:
(view spoiler)[ What is up with Theo? I feel he plays a really big part of this book. I feel so bad for Alicia, I don't feel like she killed her husband. (hide spoiler)]

[callie]

Sarah wrote: "So just started listening to this one on audio, if you guys don't mind if I jump in."

of course! can't wait to hear your thoughts!

[Sarah A]

*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told wtf is going on as soon as possi..."

(view spoiler)[ I am not 100% sure yet if this book leans more toward nature or nurture. Something has happened with Theo and his father that would give off more nurture, but with Alicia, her mother died in a car accident with her in the car as well. So wouldn't that be more nature? (hide spoiler)]

[Sarah A]

*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told wtf is going on as soon as possi..."

(view spoiler)[ the narrator did want to wait to brake up with his girlfriend, but she wanted to have it right there on the phone. They are both douches for not breaking up with the people they were with. Instead lets just jump into bed together, and he wonders why later on in the book he catches his wife cheating! (hide spoiler)]

[Beatrice]

this just got available on scribd. I'm starting since I liked The Maidens

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

Sarah wrote: "*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told w..."

Read it when you finish Part 3.
(view spoiler)[But in Alicia's mind, she believed that person whom her mother wanted to kill was hers. (hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

Sarah wrote: "*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told w..."

(view spoiler)[Once a cheater, always a cheater. (hide spoiler)]

[Beatrice]

Chapters 1-5
(view spoiler)[I find this creepier than The Maidens. So it seems Theo is determined to take on Alicia's case. I don't have any theories but Alicia is selectively mute? Since she's traumatize of Gabriel's murder. (hide spoiler)]

[Beatrice]

*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told wtf is going on as soon as possi..."

(view spoiler)[Nurture vs. Nature -- I think a person's upbringing can affect one's personality. Not all families are perfect, it's important for elderly to teach their children what's right and wrong. From what I've read so far, this book leans more towards "Nurturing". As for "nature" -- it's all about the genes and family history which can be inherit but that's hard to explain scientifically. It has its trigger factors depending on the situation.


Yuri is VERY suspicious. I can sense bad vibes but I don't want to judge you know...
(hide spoiler)]

[*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨*]

Beatrice wrote: "*¨·٠•●♥✿LINLAN✿♥●•٠·¨* wrote: "callie wrote: "OK.... well I know remember why I don't read thrillers. Umm... it's because well..... they are... thrilling. I like knowing things. I like being told w..."

(view spoiler)[I totally agree with what you said about the person's upbringing. But come to think of it, I think I saw the subtext of nature in this book. Let's discuss this further when you finish the book. (hide spoiler)]